"Ah. Captain Jasper" Miria, a petite marine with black hair and silver eyes said with a bow as her former captain stepped off the small dingy, onto the dock. She was alone as he requested, and dressed in civilian clothes, a yellow sundress with her hair down to shoulder length.

"It's good to see you're still alive." She frowned. "Honestly, I was a bit nervous about if you were alive or not, what with all the rumors going around after you left the navy." She shook her head with a smile. "But of course I should've known better. Nobody is crazy enough to just up and proclaim they were going to join the revolution and bring down the world government and all that."

"I was drunk" Jasper shrugged. "And angry." He slung his sack over his shoulder and stared off towards the prison at the edge of town. "Seemed like a good idea at the time." He started walking towards the town.

Miria swallowed. "Uh well, I didn't hear that." She shook her head and hurried after her formal captain. "Not at all. None of those words came out while I was here, not a one." She laughed and scratched the back of her neck nervously. "So anyways, talks of revolt happening or not, what brings you out here to this little post in the middle of nowhere."

"I wouldn't say nowhere. There's a few towns in the area."

"Pfff. A few small towns. They don't even have any movie theaters, or novelty shops. There's just enough people here to have the basics."

"Basics are a good enough."

"I suppose." Miria touched the corner of her mouth. "Living conditions aside, what brings you here to Dirk town? You were oddly quiet in your letter. So I assumed it was important, about things you'd never think about much less say out loud especially to people still in the navy whom you wouldn't want to get into trouble."

"And yet, you're still asking about those things I'd never say." Jasper smiled.

"Well yes, but you're a crewmate. Once a crewmate, always a crew mate, and all that. I mean, I'm going to do what I can, but nothing that would get me or my comrades in deep, of course."

"Of course." Jasper nodded.

The two walked in silence a few steps. "WEll?"

"I hear they finally caught Shade."

"Oh." Miria's eyes went wide before she calmed down and nodded. "Yes. They caught her a few days ago at a nearby trading town, the Archer's rest. Not sure the exact circumstances but she gave them a lot of trouble."

"I see, and what did they finally bring her in for? The lady isn't exactly a saint but she's never been very high on the wanted posters either. How come the sudden interest?"

"Well, she killed a high-ranking member of the marines, Lieutenant Walsh! I'm amazed you hadn't heard about that! It was all over the news!"

"I heard about it alright!" Jasper shrugged. "But didn't rightly think it was true."

"And why is that?" Miria said with narrowed eyes.

"Miria, you know those things that someone might say that a member of the marines wouldn't want to hear, for the safety of themselves and their comrades?"

"Yes." The woman went pale and gave a curt nod.

"This is one of those things someone in your shoes wouldn't want to know." Jsaper grinned over towards the prison

For the seven seas, there is only one treasure that is the price to be had. It is lies in One Piece. Many crews have formed and sailed, but so far none have reached their goals. But a new crew is about to find their fate is in the seas...

Shade was looking around, cursing as three ships burned in the bay, all pirate ships. She was on a small boat, holding a wounded side and her eyes glowing brightly in the darkness. She hadn't meant to lose it like that. The captain had crossed a line...they were just kids after all. They hadn't done anything to him. Why did they have to die? Shade may have been a pirate with just a boat that she had hidden to keep safe, but that didn't mean she didn't have a heart. Five kids were sitting in the boat, shaking from the cold but relief was on their faces. They looked at Shade, almost glowing with joy that she was with them. But she knew she had gone to far. The navy would be there soon and she couldn't run. Not with these kids....no, she had no choice. At least they would be safe. Then she saw the white sail in the distence and she sighed. "Guess my time is up...."

Three months later

She hung from the wall, chains keeping her tight and unmoving as the cell door opened and a navel officer walked in. She looked terrible. Most of her bones were broken, her body brusied and bloody from her time in the prison. And when she was question by the not so nice marines who wanted answers. He looked her over and looked at the sailor standing guard. "Has she said anyhting?" The guard shook his head. "Not a word since they brought her in...I'm not sure why they bond her like that...she doesn't seem that much of a threat..." The officer walked over the the prisoner and said "She doesn't look like much of a threat...but she is. She took down three ships on her own before we finally caught her. She's to be excuted in the morning for her crimes..." The woman looked up at him, her purple eyes almost glowing in the bad light. "I doubt that...and my crimes were against the scum of the sea...those crews were blood thirsty killers" The officer nodded and said "Still...you are a threat to the seas...the risk can't be taken" He turned and left the cell, the guard locking it up after him. She looked down again and closed her eyes. She wasn't worried. She trusted that fate wasn't done with her yet. And she knew of some people who wanted her very much alive.

She just had to find a way to escape before she was taking to the gallows. She sighed and tried to focus, hoping beyond hope she could over power the cuffs and use her fruit power.

"I don't think this is a good idea!" Miria snapped as they made their way over to prison's gate.

"You don't even know what the idea is." Jasp sighed. "You're guessing, and that's not good for you. A marine shouldn't think or wonder. A marine should do their job. Period."

"Har. Har. Spare me." The marine rolled her eyes. "Sure, I don't know what the idea is, but I know you, and I know a fair amount of the history about you. There's something going on here, or you're going to make something go on here, and its going to be a great big mess for everyone involved."

"Maybe. Maybe not. Probably. Look, that's what so great about not knowing what's going on. YOu didn't know what's going on. You're only here to show me the way, right? Nothing else. Just an escort."

"I swear to god Jasper, if you cause shit I'll make sure you pay for it."

Jasper turned to see Miria still glaring. He grinned wide and gave a wave. She frowned and turned away while crossing her arms.

""

"Noted Miria." Jasper stopped in front of the gates to the prison. There was a marine on either side, standing stiff as a board, watching the couple with interest. "Now then, so you remain innocent on the matter, I'll ask you stay here, for now. I won't be in for very long. It'll be a few minutes, at the most. NOthing more."

"Don't you cause trouble Jasper." Miria's teeth were clenched. She pointed like a parent who knew there were snacks hidden in her kid's room, but without any idea where they were. "I'm serious. Sooner or later your track record isn't going to save you, and there's going to be quiet a lot of men and women of the Navy coming after you."

"Noted." The man in red turned, and waved. "I'll see you in a couple of minutes."

Miria didn't wave back. She glared.

"Hi there." A 6'5 man in a red suit smiled as he approached one of the guards. "I'm Jasper, Jasper Rintin."

The young marine's eyes went wide after a moment of dull staring. "You're!!"

"Yes. Yes." Jasper made a hush motion with his finger. "That I am, but let's now dwell too long on that."

The man's mouth snapped close and he nodded.

"Right. So I was wondering if the warden was in today? I'd really like to have a chat with him, if you don't mind?"

The man hesitated for a moment before giving a nod and calling in so the warden would know what was going on. There was a rush mumble from the other side, informing Jasper to wait right there.

"Rintin!" An old, ball shaped man with a thick grey beard, beady eyes and a missing tooth in his wide smile, held his arms out wide as he hurried to meet the visitor. "Why, it's been awhile, hasn't it?"

Jasper nodded. He didn't hug the stranger as the man had hoped, but he patted him in the back. "Something like that."

Warden Clancy stepped back to give Rintin a good look up and down to see if the man lived up to the legend. After a few awkward seconds, he felt confident that was the case. Which wasn't saying anything as Clancy was notorious for assuming he knew everything and everyone knew him. It was a deep character flaw and one in which the navy couldn't trust, despite the man's loyalty and hard-working nature. Which was why they had him work in a prison where hardly anything happened.

Jasper cleared his throat. "Anyways, I was wondering if we could talk about something, in private."

Clancy nodded. "Yes. Yes. Sure. Why not? We can't right have the hero of Manford standing around like any other navy marine. Come this way, we'll talk in my office."
*****
"I must say" Clancy sighed, leaning back into his chair. His bottlrim glasses were in his hand, and he was wiping them down with his shirt. "It's an odd appeal, going to visit a prisoner when you're not on the job anymore."

"Will you do it?" Jasper watched the man like a hunter watching to see if a rabbit would step into the trap.

A moment before Clancy nodded. "Yes, I guess I will. You'll have to do it with a guard waiting outside the cell, but it shouldn't be a problem." Clancy called for someone to come. A moment later the door opened and a naval officer stepped inside.

"Dodgers, my good sir. Our guest Rintin, yes that Rintin, would like to see Shade for a moment, he's got something to ask her. take him to see her."

"Sir?" Dodger's blinked like a man just slapped with a rubber fish.

"Yes?"

"Is that wise?"

"Probably not, but we have a hero here, and wouldn't want to make trouble. He's got friends in high places, retired or not. Besides, you're just letting him chat for a bit, five minutes top and then you're to bring him back here, or right out if my blasted lunch is done yet!" Clancy made a point of raising his voice to just below yelling as he said the words.

"Sir."

"Anyways, that'll be all." Clancy made a shooing motion with his hands which was his way of letting the officer know discussions were over.

Dodgers sighed. "Yes, well, right this way."

*****
"She's in there." Dodgers thumbed inside the open cell, towards the woman at the back wall. "I'll be in here, with the door locked, in case she tries anything. You've got five minutes or I'm going to come get you, by force if I have to."

"Get me huh?" Jasper smirked. "Wouldn't mind seeing how that goes." The cell door was slammed as he stepped in.

"Hey there." Jasper moved into the cell and stopped at the back where the young woman was hung up. "Damn you look like shit." He sighed, and pulled a stool from the side of the room and sat down before the woman. "They really wanted to lay into you huh."

Jasper paused to look back at the guard, whose back was to the wall.

"Anyways, I don't have much time before they yank me out of here. So I'll be frank and if you're honest it could put you in a good place so please think about that before you pride gets in the way. What exactly happened between you and LT. Walsh?"

Shade heard voices and she glanced up a little then sighed as they came down the hallway. When her cell opened she kept her eyes down to keep the guard from seeing her eyes. She was trying to focus her shadow powers to over power the sea cuffs, but she was having trouble.

When Jasp sat in front of her she looked up a little and saw a man she hadn’t seen before. She listened to his words then sighed. “I didn’t kill him if that’s what your asking about…”

She flinched and said “the man was looking into the same case I was. Missing kids from small villages. We ran into each other at the port and he decided us working together was a better chance at finding the kids then trying to arrest me. We found a small boat and were on the trail of the kids when we found the ship called the Bloody Mary…the captain had the kids on board. Walsh jumped in too soon to rescue them and he was shot…when he passed I lost my cool and let my shadows finish the job on the ships…took the ship out along with two other pirate vessels…I got away with the kids but I was wounded badly…”

She flinched again and closed her eyes. “So the poor guy died with valor…but no one will listen to my story. They assume he found me and I killed him…”

Jasper nodded after the woman finished speaking. "Yeah. That sounds like Walsh." With a sigh he shook his head. "Though that doesn't make any any easier now does it?" The large former marine chewed on his cheek for a moment before he stood up and stepped closer to the pirate.

His fist shot out and a hole appeared in the spot next to the woman's head. While the sound of the impact was still echoing through the cell he leaned over and whispered. "Be calm and rest up. It's going to be a busy night."

With that he gave a curt nod before head towards the cell doors. "Let's go."

"Sir." His escort snapped a saltue and quickly opened the gate.
He closed it before they left.
****
The warden was busy eating when they returned to his office so Jasper was led back to the entrance.
***
"Well?" Miria arched an eyebrow.

"It went well." Jasper admitted.

"And?"

"And by chance do you know of any inns in the area that have a vacancy?"

Shade looked up at him as he stood, then turned her head when his fist moved, thinking it was coming for her face. It was what had become normal in the cell for her. But then she felt the hand rush by her and heard his words.

She looked back up at him and nodded softly, understanding what he meant. Before he left she said softly “I’m sorry for your loss…he didn’t die in vain…those monsters paid and those kids are back with their families…”

Then she was alone once more. She sighed and closed her eyes again, waiting and trying to break the bonds again. She had to get out. And soon.

After a few hours the door to the cell opened again and three young marines stood there, grinning and chuckling.

“Well look what we have here...looks like the captain is all alone in here...in need of some company...what do you say boys? Shall we make her last night on earth more exciting?”

Asteria Shade looked up at the men and they saw her eyes glowing purple. She said in a dark voice “if anyone here wishes to see the next sunrise...leave right now. I’m in no mood to be played with and I take my revenge in blood...” the men all swallowed at the same time then ran out of the cell, terrified.

Shade sighed and let her head hang. “Few more hours...just have to wait till then...”

"There's no such thing as a death that wasn't in vain. If you die then you don't get to see things get better." Jasper whispered on his way out.
***
Miria's arms remained folded as Jasper made his way towards her. "Depends just how long are you planning to stay here? Different inns have different expectations for guest."

"Oh. A day, at the most. I doubt I'll be here for anywhere near twenty four hours. Really, I just want a place to sleep, and rest up. I've got a busy night tonight, lot's to do."

"And this stuff y ou've got to do, is it more of the kind of stuff someone who doesn't want their neck to part from their head wouldn't want to know about?"

"The very stuff, indeed."

Miria snorted. "Yeah. Sure. I know a place. It's right on the edge of town. Come on I'll show you."

"Lead the way Miria." Jasper gave a small and low bow.
*****
The inn Miria led Jasper to was a cheap shanty place at the edge of town. Which wasn't a problem. Jasper stood over six feet, was built out of bricks, and could throw a punch without worry over breaking his wrist. Plus, it was right next to a bar. Which was a double edged sword. A few drinks would ease the tension he was feeling, and guilt, but if he went over he'd miss his cue and Shade would be as good as dead. So he limited himself to a few small drinks before his nap.
***
"I don't want to get up." Jasper stared bleary eyed up at the fan, making lazy circles over him. Despite the pitch black night between him and it, he could see it as clear as day. "But there's not any choice in the matter now, is there?" With a sigh and a groan he propped himself up and shook his head. "Damn it. HOw did it all get to this point?" Reflection was a no go. The haze of alcohol made it impossible to look back.

"Never mind. Not important. Time to get to work."

Jasper didn't wear his red tuxedo, despite his love for the look. tonight he settled on all black, and kept his things in a black sack he kept on his back.

With a frown he left his room, and snuck the key under the inn's office before starting towards the prison.
*******
There weren't any guards by the door, a bad sign. Jasper had seen enough prisons with female prisoners nearing execution to know what was going on. What the men did when there was a bound woman in chains who wouldn't have a chance to say anything about the night's was the worst kept secret in the Navy.

"The question is to outright kill them, or make them suffer." Jasper clenched his feet and rushed inside.
************
The large former marine wasn't sure if the men heard him barrelling up towards Shade's cell, and he didn't care. The only thing on his mind was letting them know they had screwed up, royal.

The three of them stood in front of the prisoner. They still had their pants on. So he wasn't too late. Without a word he hurried to the group, grabbed the young man nearest the door, and threw him across the room, burying his head deeper than the punch hole Jasper had left next to Shade.

"Now then." Shade growled. "I had been hoping to get through this without hurting a soldier, doing their job, but now all I want to do is hurt marines."

The men turned and saw Jasper and they went whiter then they had been with her threat. The one next to Shade said “we wouldn’t dream of any harm coming to her, sir…truly…”

Ash glared at him and muttered “right…your in here to give me kind wishes hou sons of…” she pulled at the sea prism cuffs and spat “you bloody dicks have been in here every night this week trying to take me! Well I won’t let it happen you got it! Your egos are the only things big around…”

The one by her turned and slapped her hard across the face without thinking. Ash gasped, blood hitting her lip. She hung there, shaking then moved to glared at him. “I get out of here…your first…”

"Indeed" Rintin arched an eyebrow. His sight moved through the man, drilled through him like a scalding flathead bit through warm butter. "And I suppose it takes three of you strapping gentlemen to do nothing to a chained lady?"

The large stranger's vision turned to the man who slapped the prisoner. "I see, and of course someone happens to come in and see you acting like this the one time it slips out, huh?" Frowning Jasper strolled up to the perpetrator. He stopped in front of him and stared down at the little man.

"Look" the marine began, but stopped when Jasper's hand wrapped around his and there was the eerily loud crunching sound of dozen little bones being pulverized into dust. The pain in such a flash the marine didn't even have time to scream. He just went white and flopped down on his knees. All of him would've crumbled if not for Jasper retaining his hand.

"So which one of you outstanding navy marines has this young woman's key?" He held out a hand and the key appeared. It was from the one soldier who hadn't been mauled.

"Good. Glad I didn't have to ask again."

With that he dropped the lead marine on the floor as a wet heap and moved to unlock the prisoner.

"Look." He whispered as he got rid of the first shackle. "I know what you're thinking and I don't blame you, but remember there's a lot of soldiers here and it won't be long before the whole place comes down on us."

Ash watched Jasper drop the one who slapped her, her eyes burning with rage. Then he asked for the key and she blinked. She held up the cuffs as he started to unlock her and she heard his words. She thought for a minute then cursed as the first cuff came off.

It was bad. The skin under the metal was raw and bloody. She felt a part of her power come back and and she sighed. “We need to go...these bloody wastes of flesh aren’t worth the trouble...” when he unlocked her other hand she tried to stand up, favoring her right leg that looked broken below the knee. She was half broken and most of her body was either cut, burned or bruised. But she fought to stand on her own two feet.

She glared at the men around her and muttered “if I ever seen any of your faces again...the next thing you will see before you die is black...” she limped to to cell door, her honor driving her to walk out of the cell. But it wouldn’t last very long.

“Shall we leave this cursed place, Rintin?” She turned and looked at him, her eyes glowing purple in the darkness.

Hard as it was, Rintin managed to suppress a wince. The flesh under her shackles was going to take some time to heal, but that wasn't what he was worried about. Her knee looked pretty bad. He doubted she'd be able to walk at a steady pace, much less be any good in a fight. So hopefully they wouldn't find one.

"Of course, there's nothing here worth expanding any more energy on." Jasper took the lead and started down the prison's halls. "Luckily nothing happens in this little nowhere town so most the marines, including the ones who should be here, are out." He led Shade through the prison and out the empty doors. "See what I mean, it's amazing anything happens at this place at all." He shook his head. "The navy is a joke."

He paused to look at Shade. "Are you sure you can walk on that thing?" He pointed at her knee. "Our way out is on the other side of the town. Which is my fault. I didn't think there'd be such a high level of structural damage."

Shade was hiding her pain as best as she could as they walked thru the prison. She paused to check her knee, cursing that is was worse then she thought. But she smiled at Jasper and nodded.

“I’ll make it…I walked into this nightmare…and I intend to walk out…” she started walking again, her shadows starting to gather around as her powers were slowly recovering. When they reached the main gates she had to stop again, breathing hard as she lifted her leg to get weight off of it.

“We are…almost there…do you see any one around? Will we have to fight our way out?”

"Yeah." Jasper nodded. "I think we're good." He chewed on his cheek. "I have a friend who said she'd take some of the soldiers, as many as she could to a bar on the other side of town and get them drunk. Most should've gone, because this is such an outside area the navy doesn't keep a lot of strict tabs, but there might very well be those oddballs who don't want a drink, or act when their guts tell them something's fishy." He thumbed back the way they came. "Plus we left one marine conscious and intact back there. Hopefully he'll stay still and not raise the alarm, but you never know with those types. It's the guys who are desperate and scared you gotta watch out for." He paused. "Either way, let's get going. The sooner we start the sooner we'll finish."

Letting shade have her pride he didn't offer to carry her again. He started walking, and before long they made it to the harbor. Which seemed clear.

"Which way is it?" He mumbled, trying to remember what Miria had told him. "Damn it." He winced. His head was pounded from the earlier drinks and it made remembering a bit difficult. "Hold on." For a moment his body flickered and his face looked odd, shifted. He took in some quick sniffs and turned to his left. "Okay. It's this one, over here, come on." Without looking back he headed towards the end of the harder where a single lowely ship rested.

"Ahh. Here we go." He pointed at the ladder to get on board. "Get on. I'll untie the rope and cast us off."

Shade followed him as closely as she could, her pace getting slower and her walking more off as they made their way out of the base and to the harbor. When they finally got there, she was shaking badly and panting. She was hot to the touch as she swung herself over the side of the boat and sat down, pulling her bad leg up to check it over.

“All…set…let’s leave this place….”

It wasn't easy to refrain from offering to pick Shade up and put her on the boat, but somehow he managed. The woman's pride might've been more battered than her body, and he didn't want to add to the inury. So as she struggled onto the ship he bit his lip and made his face as still as possible.

"Miria, you pain in the ass" he grumbled to himself. "You had to do that knot thing. Ugh." After a few minutes of struggling he gave up with the traditional route of rope removal and ripped the line. There'd be another one on the ship. He hoped there'd be another one on the ship.

"Hey!" A voice called from the other end of the dock. "What's going on over there?"
"Where?"
"There!"
"Hey!"
The chorus of voices grew. Shadows appeared out of the boats and started in their direction. Marines.

"Alright." Rintin said. "We're good to go." Without waiting he hurried over to the end of the boat and gave it a mighty push before jumping on and hurrying over to the wheel after lowering the sail. There was a strong breeze tonight. So the ship would have a good head start before any of the marines were able to get out to the water. That is, if Miria did her part and tied extra ropes to the bottoms of the docks.

Shade watched them sail away but saw smaller boats heading their way. She moved next to Jasper and said “we can’t let them spot us...” she held up her hand and closed her eyes. The shadows of the waters suddenly moved and wrapped around them, making them vanish into the night without a trace.

Once she was sure they were out of range she gasped, the shadows dropping and she swayed a little. Sweat was running down her cheeks as she muttered “I think...I over...” she fell forward and hit the bottom of the boat, fighting to stay awake but was failing badly.

When Shade hit the floor, she made a loud bump like a textbook slammed on the classroom flower. Which wasn't a surprise, anymore. Jasper had grown accustomed to the volume a human body made when it impacted hard against the floor.

Frowning, the man turned from the wheel. He was curious to see what happened since he hadn't heard anyone else get on board. Which was true. It was Shade, on the ground, out like a light.

"Well," Rintin arched an eyebrow. "Here's a neat little complication." He frowned. "It's going to take awhile before I get to the revolutionary army. So one or two pitstops isn't going to be a big deal." With a sigh he bent down, to pick up Shade and carried her over to one of the beds. "Not sure which one you want, or if there's any difference. So you can have this one." With a nod he turned and went back to the wheel.

"Where to though?" Jasper scratched his chin as he surveyed the blue seas, swirling in night ahead of him.

Somewhere off in the distance there were bell chimes. Jasper followed the sounds and came to a floating sign, with a bell on top. It said "Mirlens Magical Dinner Town. Come for the food, stay for the show, and never leave for the great deals and honest living. Free docking."

"Eh?" Without any better idea, Jasper decided to follow the direction on the sign and head towards Mirlen's

After a few hours Shade turned in the bed and opened her eyes, her vision blurry. She slowly got up and held her head. She heard the water and it hitting the wood so she slowly got up and headed back out. The sky was lighter as she walked out and went to the helm.

Shade saw Jasper and walked over. “Where did we end up? And sorry I passed out on you…I must have over done it last night…”

"You might've" Rintin said with a frown, and a nod. "Didn't think you had anything left in you much less enough to manifest any type of attack." Jasper stood behind her, hands in the pockets of his red pants. His eyes moved up and down. It wasn't a sexual way, but a 'is this stack of guards going to blow over if I give it any kind of knowledge' sort of way.

His attention turned to the colorful docks around them. Each one was pained a different color. They were parked in purble. The empty one next to them was red, and the one on the other side was green. "Wasn't sure where to head next." He pointed to a sign over the docks, with the picture of a few knights fighting that said "Mirlens Magical Dinner Town."

"They had free parking, whatever that is."

Shade looked around them and frowned. “Hold on…I’ve heard of this place…some kind of tourist trap if I remember right…but we couldn’t have been anywhere near here unless…” she turned to face him and said “the rumors might be true about this…well, shall we go loo around?” She took a few steps then gasped, grabbing the railing and holding her bad leg.

“Dang it all…it isn’t healing right…that bloody…it got slammed on by one of those bloody marines…I fear it’s badly messed up…”